A new Net Zero Carbon Supplier Tool has been developed by Nottingham Trent University to help other higher education institutes and their suppliers meet net zero goals.
By collecting supplier-specific carbon footprint data, universities can report on the sustainability impact of the goods and services they purchase, as well as track reductions in emissions when sustainability interventions are implemented.
Aligning with sector-specific carbon footprint calculation methodology, the tool will help universities to understand how suppliers are responding to the shared challenge of climate change and support them in taking actions to progress net zero carbon in their own businesses.
Additionally, suppliers are each provided with an estimated carbon footprint and a bespoke carbon reduction plan free of charge.
Regardless of how many universities they do business with, only one account is needed as the data is shared.
Suppliers who already know their carbon footprint and have committed to take action, can share this with multiple universities via the tool.
The supplier tool has over 30 UK universities on board as part of a one-year action project.
Nottingham Trent University head of sustainability Laura Mayhew-Manchón said while the university has a commitment to reach net zero by 2040, it also has a commitment to “build sustainable supply chains across the higher education sector”.
“Supply chain emissions are the largest single source of emissions within our own footprint – five times greater than our emissions from energy use, which is common in many organisations,” she added.
“Our Net Zero Carbon Supplier Tool goes some way to help us and the sector to reduce our scope 3 emissions in a targeted and informed way.”
